End for easy opening can

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a pull ring for an easy opening container, particularly cans having bottoms which are integrally formed and which include downwardly projecting portions adapted to facilitate the stacking thereof. The pull ring is provided with a nose construction which results in the spacing of the effective part of the nose from an associated underlying weakening line a sufficient distance to prevent the application of pressure by the nose of the weakening line due to loads applied to the pull ring by stacked cans or other downward pressures. The spacing of the nose from the weakening line is in no way detrimental to the normal mode of opening the can while at the same time eliminating the risk of unintended rupture along the weakening line when the cans are stacked or packaged in cartons or during handling.

United States Patent Billy et al.

[54] END FOR EASY OPENING CAN [72] Inventors: Emile Billy, Saint-Cloud; Jean Ethevenaux, Meudon Bellevue, both of France [73] Assignee: Etablissements J. J. Carnaud & Forges De Basse-lndre, Paris, France [22] Filed: 'Aug.28, 1970 [21] Ap 1.No.: 67,895

[52] U.S.Cl. ..220/54 [51] Int.Cl. ..B65d 17/24 [58] FieldofSearch ..220/54,53,97,48

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,544,025 12/1970 LaCroce ..220/54 3,391,820 7/1968 Brown 220/54 3,450,301 7/1969 Stecetal. ..220/54 [151 3,685,683 14 1 Aug. 22, 1972 Primary ExaminerGeorge T. Hall Att0rneyDiller, Brown, Ramik & Holt [5 7] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a pull ring for an easy opening container, particularly cans having bottoms which are integrally formed and which include downwardly projecting portions adapted to facilitate the stacking thereof. The pull ring is provided with a nose construction which results in the spacing of the effective part of the nose from an associated underlying weakening line a sufficient distance to prevent the application of pressure by the nose of the weakening line due to loads applied to the pull ring by stacked cans or other downward pressures. The spacing of the nose from the weakening line is in no way detrimental to the normal mode of opening the can while at the same time eliminating the risk of unintended rupture along the weakening line when the cans are stacked or packaged in cartons or during handling.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEmuczz I872 3.685.683

E 1 E& H 1

: lNV'A/TOA H Emmi RALLY H JEAN Ema/Emu END FOR EASY OPENING CAN The present invention relates to easy opening metallic cans, especially stamped cans of the type with a tearoff lid portion and pull ring that effects the opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Easy opening cans are known in which the end has a peripheral line of weakening along which the tear. is made. This tear is accomplished by means of apull ring with a nose, the pull ring being attached to the end by a rivet, for example. To reduce as much as possible the force of puncturing or tearing along the weakened line when the can is opened, the pull ring nose is in the same plane as the flat outline of the end panel of the end, substantially in the middle of the score line, in direct contact therewith.

This arrangement, which in itself is good, nonetheless presents a serious deficiency. If after seaming the end onto the can body, the end is correctly protected either by a plastic cap or inside a carton with partitions between the layers of cans placed bottom-against-top, there is very little risk of accidental perforation of the weakened portion in the zone perpendicular to the ring nose. However, if the cans are stacked, which can be the case with stamped or drawn cans (cans with integral bottoms) or especially with. cans packaged in groups under a shrink-on film, the lower part of the body of the superposed can comes into direct contact with the ring nose. In these conditions, the least shock on the assembled unit runs-the risk of causing rupture of the thinned place in the zone that corresponds to the nose of the ring. Even without shock the lower cans in a tall stack can be perforated by vertical static stress due to the weight of the cans on top. It is, therefore, not possible to plan packaging of this kind with easy opening cans of the presently known type. Besides, no matter what the style of packaging may be, handling will always have to be cautious because of the serious problems indicated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention which applies to easy o'pening cans of this known type particularly stamped or drawn cans, is addressed to the alleviation of these difficulties, reducing the danger of unintended rupture of the lid.

In accordance with the invention, in its normal position the nose comprising the front of the pull ring has a protective disengagement perpendicular to the weakened zone of the lid.

Through this arrangement the risk of unintentional rupture of the thinned part of the opening, either by stacking or packaging, or in course of handling, is practically eliminated.

According to an especially advantageous embodiment, the disengagement between the bottom of the can and the nose of the pull ring is substantially 0.9 mm. While avoiding the known drawbacks associated with easy opening cans as cited above, such a distance of disengagement allows opening according to the usual method, since the force for perforation remains below the limit of rupture of the pull ring, and stresses originating from the upper can at the time of stacking are exerted beyond the line of weakening.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following description, as example, with reference to the attached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage can with attached end and easy opening according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on a large scale 'of a detail of two stacked cans, which shows the disadvantages associated with the known way of constructing the pull ring.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the pull ring of the invention, and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but with the pull ring of the invention.

According to FIG. 1, the type of can to which the invention relates comprises an end 11 seamed onto a can body 1 which may be of a stamped or drawn construction, the end constituting an easy opening lid with a pull ring 13 having an integrally formed force applying nose 14 attached to the said bottom by a rivet 15 formed in the end panel of the end 11 near a peripheral line of weakening or score 16 formed therein.

In FIG. 2 a detail of the seamed end is shown, with the peripheral weakening line 16 which facilitates rupture, on which weakened portion of the end 1 1 the nose 14 of the pull ring acts. When a second can 1A is stacked on the first, the rounded bottom portion 5 rests on the back of nose l4, and through the force of shock or through vertical static stress to which the assembly thus formed may be exposed, the end 11 may be ruptured along the weakened or score line 16 in the zone that corresponds to the end of the nose 14.

FIG. 3 shows in detail the end part of the pull ring nose of this invention. This part has at its center the zone of attachment of the ring 17, for the riveting thereof to the end panel of the end 11, behind this zone, which is to say toward the middle of the end, lifting arms 18 of the ring extend. Toward the front, which is to say toward the edge of the end, puncturing arms 19 join, forming the end portion 20 of the nose 14, by means of which the rupture of the weakened portion of the end 11 is accomplished.

As is best shown in FIG. 3, the pull ring 13 is provided with a peripheral hem or flange 21 which is integrally connected to and extends downwardly from the arms 18 and 19 including along the end portion 20. It will be apparent that the part of the end portion 20 defined by the flange 21 is that part which engages the end panel to effect rupture thereof along the weakening line 16.

FIG. 4 shows the use of the pull ring of the invention with respect to stacked cans. As compared to known rings or pull tabs, nose 14 has been reduced in height by the removal of a portion of the flange 21 along the arms 19 and the end portion 20 and because of this, end portion 20 is normally, before opening, at a certain distance H above .the end panel of the end 11. This protective distance H between the tip of the ring and the end panel of the end 11 is sufficient to avoid unintentional rupture of the end panel along the weakened line 16 in stacking or handling of the cans, while at the same time allowing opening of the can in the usual way. The distance is about one millimeter, advantageously 0.9 mm, and in relation to the thickness of the end 11 and preferably from 3 to 3% times the thickness of the end 11.

It is to be particularly noted that the pull ring 13 is of a onewpiece construction and in of itself is not intended to hinge although the attaching portion thereof may be hingedly connected to the remainder of the pull ring. When the pull ring is firmly secured in place by means of the rivet, the hem or flange 21 of the pull ring is firmly seated on the can end except for the reduced height portion of the flange 21 in the area of the end portion 20 with the result that the pull ring 13 has a tendency to lie flat in position, as is shown in FIG. 4, and therefore, is normally not subject to pivoting to an operative position due to loads applied thereon by stacked cans, as is also shown in FIG. 4.

Comparative tests for shock resistance were con ducted using eight stacked cans strapped with elastic, in a vertical drop from 1 meter above the floor along a 60 sloping trough, with the stacked cans falling on an anvil. Whereas, of the cans with the conventional ring, five on the bottom of the stack were punctured on the first drop, there was no rupture whatsoever of the thinned portion in the cans with the new pull ring after six consecutive drops, with reversal of the cans after each drop. The same satisfactory results were obtained with cans in cartons.

Although only a preferred embodiment of pull ring has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the pull ring construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An easy open can end of the type including a peripheral zone of reduced section and a pull ring, said pull ring being connected to the can end by a securing zone and including a nose facing the reduced section and adapted to effect the severing of the latter to open the can end, and there being a clearance gap means disposed between an end portion of the nose and the section of reduced section of such dimension that it prevents the inadvertant piercing of the can during normal handling, that portion of said pull ring nose between said end portion and said securing zone being firmly seated on said can end and generally only said end portion is spaced from the adjacent portion of said can end.

2. The easy opening can end of claim 1 wherein said can end is secured to a can body having an integral bottom and said bottom has a projecting portion adapted to seat on a pull ring of a like can.

3. The easy opening can end of claim 1 wherein the clearance gap is at least twice the thickness of the end.

4. The easy opening can end of claim 1 wherein the clearance gap is between three and three and one half times the thickness of the end.

5. The easy opening can end of claim 1 wherein said nose includes converging arms terminating in said end portion, a depending flange along the periphery of said arms and end portion with those portions of said flange along said arms being seated on the can end and normally supporting said nose, and said flange being of a reduced height along said end portion to provide said clearance gap, said end portion being generally aligned with said zone of reduced section.

6. A pull ring for an easy opening container, said pull ring comprisin body portion temiinating atI one end In a ring and aflt e opposite end in a nose inc uding an end portion for engagement generally along a line of weakness to effect rupture, said body having means intermediate said nose and said ring for receiving a securing member, and said body having an under surface for the firm supporting of said pull ring when secured in place, said under surface extending to immediately adjacent said end portion and said end portion being displaced a material distance from the plane of said under surface to prevent the undesired operation of said pull ring by pressure other than a lifting pressure applied through said ring.

UUETED STATES PATENT O Q @F CQRi ECEIQN Patent NO- 3 .685. 683 Dated August 22. 1972 Inventor(s) EMILE BILLY and JEAN ETHEVENAUX A It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

g'" On the Abstract page, after"Appln. No. :67,895" read [30]Foreign Application Priority Data October 30, 1969 France Column 4, line '1 read "inadvertent" as inadvertent Signed and sealedthis 6th day of February 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLE'ICHER,JR. ROBERT GO'ITSCHALK Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. An easy open can end of the type including a peripheral zone of reduced section and a pull ring, said pull ring being connected to the can end by a securing zone and including a nose facing the reduced section and adapted to effect the severing of the latter to open the can end, and there being a clearance gap means disposed between an end portion of the nose and the section of reduced section of such dimension that it prevents the inadvertant piercing of the can during normal handling, that portion of said pull ring nose between said end portion and said securing zone being firmly seated on said can end and generally only said end portion is spaced from the adjacent portion of said can end.
 2. The easy opening can end of claim 1 wherein said can end is secured to a can body having an integral bottom and said bottom has a projecting portion adapted to seat on a pull ring of a like can.
 3. The easy opening can end of claim 1 wherein the clearance gap is at least twice the thickness of the end.
 4. The easy opening can end of claim 1 wherein the clearance gap is between three and three and one half times the thickness of the end.
 5. The easy opening can end of claim 1 wherein said nose includes converging arms terminating in said end portion, a depending flange along the periphery of said arms and end portion with those portions of said flange along said arms being seated on the can end and normally supporting said nose, and said flange being of a reduced height along said end portion to provide said clearance gap, said end portion being generally aligned with said zone of reduced section.
 6. A pull ring for an easy opening container, said pull ring comprising a body portion terminating at one end in a ring and at the opposite end in a nose including an end portion for engagement generally along a line of weakness to effect rupture, said body having means intermediate said nose and said ring for receiving a securing member, and said body having an under surface for the firm supporting of said pull ring when secured in place, said under surface extending to immediately adjacent said end portion and said end portion being displaced a material distance from the plane of said under surface to prevent the undesired operation of said pull ring by pressure other than a lifting pressure applied through said ring. 